Visit of Pope Benedict to England and Scotland

Seminarians' photo-call with the Holy Father

On
Sunday evening, 19th September, after the Holy Father had addressed the
bishops of England, Wales and Scotland at St Mary's College, Oscott, and
said farewell to them, he was driven to Birmingham Airport for his
return flight to Rome.

Time, however, for him to be greeted enthusiastically
by the seminarians of England, Wales and Scotland. They had taken part
in the Beatification Mass at Cofton Park and now had their photo taken
with him.

The Holy Father drove away with with their song 'Ad
multos annos vivat' (May he live for many years) ringing in his
ears.

Archbishop Peter welcomes the Holy Father to
Hyde Park

The
Holy Father travelled in the popemobile for most of his journey from St
Peter's Residence to Hyde Park. A huge crowd lined the route which took
him up The Mall (decorated with alternate Union Flags and Papal Flags)
and along Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner.

80,000 people were waiting in the Park. During the afternoon, a
presentation on 'the heart of the Church', had been sponsored by CAFOD
and produced in collaboration with the Catholic Enquiry Office.

On
the Holy Father's arrival, Archbishop Peter welcomed him. In his address of welcome,
he said:

'We have come from all over Britain to share this
historic moment with you and to celebrate and rejoice in the truth that
God loves every human being unconditionally, irrespective of race,
colour or creed. With you this evening we witness to the joy of being a
follower of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who stands at the door
of every heart patiently waiting to be let in.'

Southwark Youth with diocesan banner at Hyde Park

Some
of Southwark's young pilgrims with the diocesan banner in Hyde Park
ready for the banner procession before the Holy Father's arrival.

Holy Father's visit to St Peter's Residence,
Vauxhall

The
Holy Father's visit to St Peter's Residence, Vauxhall, in the early
evening of Saturday, 18th September, was a lovely occasion.He was
greeted by Archbishop Peter and welcomed by Sr Marie Claire of the
Little Sisters of the Poor.

He made a short visit to the chapel on his arrival
and proceeded to the hall for the welcome. His gift to St Peter's
Residence was a mosaic of St Peter.

Having met many of the residents, including elderly
priests, with some of the Sisters and the staff in the hall, the Holy
Father visited the rooms of three residents, who would not otherwise
have seen him.

The previous warning that Meadow Road would be closed
did not prevent a crowd gathering to greet the Holy Father. He left the
grounds of St Peter's Residence and crossed the road to meet them.

A most memorable occasion, which demonstrated the
Holy Father's pastoral concern for the elderly.

The 'Big Assembly' at St Mary's University College, Twickenham

The
Holy Father's first event in England was a celebration of Catholic
Education at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, on Friday morning,
17th September. It was attended by 4,000 school children and students,
assembled in the Sports Arena.

In the picture the Holy Father receives a bouquet form one of the
children from St Elizabeth's School in Richmond welcoming him. The
bouquet was made by one of the parents.

Christine Brett, Headteacher at St Elizabeth's, was one of the
organisers of this event, which was screened in schools throughout
England, Wales and Scotland to an estimated audience of a million young
people.

At the event, the Holy Father opened the John Paul II Institute for
Sport.

First glimpse of the Holy Father in Southwark

The
Holy Father flew from Glasgow to London Heathrow on Thursday evening,
16th September, after his Mass at Bellahouston Park.

He was driven to the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon, where he will
stay as the guest of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz
Muñoz, for the duration of his visit.

The crowd holding a Vigil on Wimbledon Common, opposite the Nunciature,
were delighted to get this glimpse of him at the window. (Photo: AP)

Southwark's gift to the Holy Father

On Saturday, 18th September 2010, during the Holy Father's visit to St
Peter's Residence in Vauxhall, Mgr Matthew Dickens, Vicar General and
Chancellor of the diocese, will present the Holy Father with this
embroidered gift on behalf of the people of the diocese.

It
was decided to commission textile artist Anne Kelly to design and make a
framed embroidery piece as the Southwark diocesan presentation to the
Holy Father on his visit to England.

The piece was intended to reflect the character and multicultural nature
of the diocese. The artist was asked to include representations of St
George’s and Canterbury cathedrals, a suitable piece of religious text,
an indication of the martyred saints of the archdiocese and some
traditional Catholic symbols or iconography.

The artist began by researching St George’s Cathedral and looking at the
work of Pugin, who was its original architect. She also looked at other
visual elements such as stained glass windows which could act as a
framework for the plan of the piece.

The border surrounding the central panel is made up of a patchwork of
different fabrics from the ethnic communities represented in the diocese
(Chinese, Indian, South American, West African and Eastern European).
This is broken up with small Pugin-like crosses and embroideries of
flowers and plants found in South London and Kent.

The central panel has been embroidered on an ecclesiastical damask
pattern which, using golden thread, frames and contains the different
‘patches’ placed on it. The dove and cross are traditional symbols, and
the prayer book open invites us the prayers of the martyred saints of
the diocese. The writing around the border is taken from St. Anselm.
There are, as previously mentioned, the two cathedrals with St.
Augustine of Canterbury in the centre. Small vignettes of London and
Kent landscapes complete the geographical representations of the
diocese. Archbishop Peter's crest is also included.

Archbishop Peter to
accompany the Pope throughout his Visit

From the moment he lands at Edinburgh
International Airport at 10:30am on Thursday, 16th
September, the Holy Father has a punishing schedule, which would
be daunting for a far younger person. The Pope is 83.

During his
liturgies and meetings he is
expected to give fifteen homilies, addresses and speeches.

Supporting him on the whole of his itinerary
will be his own personal entourage, visiting prelates and the
Archbishops of England and Scotland.

Archbishop Peter will be among them. He will
attend:

on Thursday, 16th September

the State Welcome and Audience with HM Queen
Elizabeth II at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

the Celebration of Mass at Bellahouston
Park, Glasgow

on Friday, 17th September

the meeting with the Anglican House of
Bishops and the Catholic Diocesan Bishops at Lambeth Palace

the Address to British Society at
Westminster Hall

Evening Prayer at Westminster Abbey

the State Banquet at Lancaster House

on Saturday, 18th September

the Celebration of Mass at Westminster
Cathedral

the Pastoral Visit to St Peter's Residence,
Vauxhall

the Vigil of Prayer at Hyde Park (during
which he welcomes Pope Benedict to the Vigil)

on Sunday, 19th September

the Beatification Mass at Cofton Park,
Birmingham

the Meeting of the Bishops of England, Wales
and Scotland with the Holy Father at Oscott College,
Birmingham.

The Auxiliary Bishops will attend some of these
events.

14,000 Southwark pilgrims receive pilgrim passes
...

... to Hyde Park

Nearly
12,200 pilgrims from the Southwark diocese have been sent their Pilgrim
Packs and Passes for the Vigil of Prayer with the Holy Father at Hyde
Park on Saturday, 18th September. It is expected that this number will
increase as the diocesan colleges and schools take up their allocations.

Pilgrims are asked to gather in the arena by 2:00
pm. There will be a programme of dance, mime and movement until 4:00 pm
when there will be a 1,200 strong procession of banners, representing
the diverse geography, ministry, social outreach and vibrancy of the
Catholic Church in England, Wales and Scotland.

The pilgrims will, no doubt, be in good voice for the hymns during the
Entrance Procession. This will be followed by a presentation on 'the
heart of the Church' - 'A heart that sees ... serves ... seeks justice
... and understands'. reflecting on Cardinal Newman's motto: 'Heart
speaks unto heart'.

Pope Benedict will arrive at 6:30 pm in the Popemobile. He will be
welcomed by Archbishop Peter and lead Evening Prayer, which will include
a Liturgy of the Word, a homily by the Holy Father, Exposition and
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.

The Vigil is expected to end by 9:00 pm.

The full Vigil is included in
the Magnificat booklet on page 231

...to Cofton Park, Birmingham

And just a few hours later, 40 coaches from
around the Southwark diocese will be leaving taking nearly 2000
pilgrims to Cofton Park, Birmingham, for the Mass of Beatification
of Cardinal John Henry Newman on Sunday 19th September. Coach
departure times vary between midnight and 2:45 am.

The Beatification Mass will be at 10:00 am. At
the end of the Mass, the Holy Father will deliver his weekly
Angelus address and pray the Angelus with those present and all
who are participating through television, radio or the internet.

The full Beatification Mass is in the
Magnificat booklet on page 264

Places in Southwark associated with the
visit

The Apostolic Nunciature

Although
there are no major public events within our diocese, there will still be
chances to welcome the Holy Father as he travels to various places on
his itinerary.

He will be staying at the Apostolic Nuciature overlooking Wimbledon
Common for the duration of his visit, where the Apostolic
Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, will be his host.

Lambeth Palace

At
4:00 pm on Friday, 17th September, the Holy Father will visit Lambeth
Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

There, together with the Catholic bishops, he will meet with the
Anglican bishops of England and Wales.

Stephen Langton is thought to have been the first Archbishop to have
lived there in the thirteenth century.

In
1515, when Raphael was at the height of his fame, Pope Leo X
commissioned him to prepare designs (cartoons) for a series of ten
tapestries to hang in the Sistine Chapel. The tapestries were to be
scenes from the lives of St Peter and St Paul. The cartoons were sent to
Brussels where the tapestries were woven in wool, silk and gilt-metal
thread. They were cut into strips and the tapestries woven from the rear
making the tapestries mirror images of the cartoons.

The Vatican Museums have loaned four of these tapestries to the Victoria
and Albert Museum as an accompaniment to mark the visit to Britain by
Pope Benedict XVI. For the first time they are exhibited together with
the cartoons which are in the Royal Collection.

In 1623, the cartoons were acquired by Charles I, while the Prince of
Wales, who wished to have his own set woven in the Thames-side tapestry
workshops in Mortlake. The Flemish tapestries are considered to have
greater vivacity than the Mortlake tapestry of the Miraculous Draught of
Fishes (also in the exhibition) from 100 years later.